Culture
A complex whole which
includes knowledge, beliefs,
arts, law, custom, and any
other capabilities and habits
acquired by man as member
of the society
Man’s social and material
inventions, man’s artificial
and man made environment
including the learned ways of
doing things
1. It is learned. ( acquired through
education, training and experience
– not transmitted through heredity)
2. It is socially transmitted through
language (verbal or non verbal like
gestures and signs – oral or in
writing)
3. It is a social product. (through
persons interacting with one
another)
4. It is a source of gratification.
(provides satisfactions for man’s
varied needs)
5. It is adaptive. ( overcoming man’s
limitations)
6. It is the distinctive way of life of a
group of people. (cultural
diversity)
7. Is it material and non- material.
(buildings and machines vs
knowledge and skills)
8. It has sanctions and control
(rewards and punishments)
9. It is stable yet dynamic ( changing..
preserved and accumulated)
10. It is an established pattern of
behavior. (shared belief, customs
and practices… easy to identify
behavior)
1. Norms> guidelines to follow
> shared rules
(right vs wrong)
> appropriate and
non appropriate
behavior
Social norms are:
a. Folkways- everyday habits which
people obey (ex. Eating with hands
or with spoons)
b. Mores – special customs with moral
and ethical significance
c. Laws – formalized norms enacted by
people vested with legitimate
authority
Mores are either:
Positive or Duty (Behavior
that is a must and ought to
be done because they are
ethically good) ex. Giving
alms to the poor
Negative or Taboo (societal
prohibitions on certain acts
and must not be done) ex.
Incest, cannibalism or
murder
2. Ideas, beliefs and values
Ideas> are non material aspects of
culture
> embody man’s
conception of his physical,
social and cultural world
> ex. Idea of an educated
person
Beliefs> a person’s conviction about
a certain idea
> ex. Belief in life after
death
Values > abstract concepts of what is
ideal and worthwhile
> ex. Achievement, work,
freedom, patriotism
3. Material Culture – the concrete and
tangible objects produced and used
by man
> ex. Artifacts
> a piece of woven cloth is
insignificant but if it is used to
wrapped the body of tribal
chieftains then it becomes part of
culture
4. Symbols – refers to an object,
gesture, sound, color or design that
represents something other than
itself
Agreed meaning for symbols is
necessary for it to be understood
Ex. Cross for christianity
1. Cultural relativism > cultures differ
ex. Monogamy vs polygamy
2. Culture shock> feeling of disbelief
ex. When a conservative enters a nudist
camp
3. Ethnocentrism> seeing a particular behavior
etc as the only right way of living
ex. Superiority of the white race
4. Xenocentrism> what is foreign is best
> ex. Colonial mentality
5. Noble Savage Mentality – simple
culture is better
> ex. Rural lifestyle
6. Subculture – smaller group which
create their own norms
Based on age, gender, social class,
occupation, education, political and
religious affiliation
Ex. Tagalog, Protestants, teenagers,
democrats
7. Counterculture – a subgroup in conflict
with the dominant culture
> ex. Deviants like criminals, prostitutes
8. Culture Lag – gap between material
and the non material culture
> ex. Technology vs way of life (Accepting
what is modern but firm in certain
aspects)
1. Based on nationality
2. Based on ethnoliguistic group
3. Based on historical epochs
4. Based on economic means
5. Based on geographical locations
6. Based on religions
7. Based on technology
8. Based on age
9. Based on economic status
10. Based on response to colonialism
(mainstream or indigenous)
1. Culture of poverty (unending
poverty)
2. Culture of opulence (life of the
rich and the famous)
3. Culture of corruption ( illegal
amass of wealth/power)
4. Culture of silence /sabotage
(attitude of silence or resigned
response)
5. Pop Culture (popular ways,
practices and interest ex dance
craze)
6. Culture of apathy (lack of
emotion, inaction or indifference)
7. Culture of conspicuous
consumption ( buying goods and
services in excess of one’s needs)
8. Culture of
exploitation/dehumanization
(Abusive practices)
1. Discovery
2. Invention
3. Diffusion (spread of cultural traits or
practices)
a. Acculturation (ex. English speaking)
b. Assimilation (ex. Americanization of
Filipino Immigrants)
c. Amalgamation (ex. Marriage of a
Pinoy and an American)
d. Enculturation (force teaching of
Spanish ways during the Spanish
era)
4. Colonization
5. Rebellion or Revolutionary
movement
